Ford Taurus safety ads set to go live
click above image to view both versions of Ford's new ads for the 2008 Taurus
While Ford seemingly let its large front-wheel-drive sedan languish in obscurity when it was called the Five-Hundred, it doesn't intend to make the same mistake now that it's called the Taurus. We told you at the beginning of the month that the Taurus' new tagline will be "Rated Safest Car In America", and now we've got some advertisements to go along with the new marketing babble. Above you'll find one of the two print ads developed, we assume, by longtime Ford ad agency JWT Detroit. The ad features a highly photoshopped shot of the new Taurus wearing its Sunday best, which is comprised of super shiny chrome trim and 18-inch chromed 7-spoke wheels. The color appears to be Light Ice Blue Clearcoat Metallic, although it looks much better in the ad than it does when building the car on Ford's website. Besides the gussied up Taurus on the left, consumers will also notice the new tagline and references to the stellar crash test scores the Taurus received from both the NHTSA and IIHS.
After the jump you'll find Ford's new commercial for the Taurus that debuts on June 18th. Playing off of Father's Day, it shows that heartwarming moment we've all experience when Dad hands you the keys for the first time and says, "You drive." We thought this would be a perfect set up for a demonstration of how safe the Taurus is when the son blows a stop light and introduces Dad's new car to the business end of a fire hydrant, but alas, the 2008 Taurus just accelerates away.
[Source: Ford]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aprime1 3:49PM (6/15/2007)
Hopefully it will stop people from getting SUVs.
Reply
Drewboy 3:57PM (6/15/2007)
I'm 26 and I wouldn't mind driving a new Taurus. That feels really weird, considering when I was 16 I chose a Dodge Stratus over a Taurus because the Taurus felt so... "Old Fogey".
Reply
Atlanta Andy 6:02PM (6/15/2007)
I'm twenty-two and feel the same way. The Taurus with a good V-6 and intelligent AWD looks like a great package. Odds are you can buy a Taurus AWD for less than an Accord or Camry V-6. I'd prefer a coupe over a sedan any day, but the Taurus doesn't look bad at all. I know it's just a Five Hundred with a facelift. Since the Taurus is now considered a large-size sedan, however, that would place it in the same category as the Toyota Avalon and Dodge Charger, and the Fusion with the Camry and Altima. How odd.
Kyle 4:00PM (6/15/2007)
That new Taurus is a great looking car as I have said before..
But when is Mercury going to start showing commercials for the 2008 Sable I mean there always talking about boosting sales but you rarely ever see a Mercury or a Ford Commercial . In my opinion as Ford unveiled the Sable and Taurus they should have started running Commercials but better late than never.
Reply
Mike Botros 3:51AM (6/16/2007)
Never see Ford or Mercury commercials? I guess you probably aren't watching TV. I see edge commercials a ton, fusion commercials a ton, and mercury milan commercials a ton. Mustang commercials all the time, same with mariner and escape commercials. Explorer commercials all the time too. Basically everything that is marketable and isn't living off it's reputation. The only Fords you don't see commercials for anymore are crown victorias. I'm sure as soon as the new sable is available in the showrooms they will start commercials for them, too.
iQuack 4:01PM (6/15/2007)
Good short-term move by Ford: not dropping the Taurus name and promoting safety of a full-sized sedan.
The new Taurus (formerly the 500) is an uninspired style that's built from the Volvo S80 chassis, so it's Volvo engineering that's responsible for the structure.
Too bad the new Taurus is so ugly--from every angle that car is a mess, and the guardrail front grille doesn't help, either.
Volvo no longer owns safety--just about all full sized sedans do well in crash tests these days. Good luck, Ford--you'll need it!
Reply
Don 4:10PM (6/15/2007)
Hopefully, this will ignite Taurus sales a bit...Lord knows they need it.
Reply
DC_1 4:14PM (6/15/2007)
I actually like to new Taurus as well. I think its a big improvement over the 500. BTW I am 25yr old lol...
Reply
Mike 4:35PM (6/15/2007)
I'm 23, and I must say that I too really like the new Taurus.
I almost can't believe I just said that...
Reply
Drewboy 5:50PM (6/15/2007)
Haha, we're in the same boat then! I checked it out on Ford's website yesterday, it is packed full of features for the price. I don't care for the *selection* of the colors they have available right now, but it looks terrific in black to me. Its got both power and good fuel economy. Too bad I kinda need a "cute ute" in the household otherwise I'd consider it.
JC3 4:42PM (6/15/2007)
I'm 6'1" and am very comfortable in that car with it's tall stance and high seating.A better fit that my own E320.Definetly a better Taurus than the previous gen.
Reply
psarhjinian 4:44PM (6/15/2007)
The Five Hundred was (is?) the best full-sizer in holistic terms. It handled well, was decently appointed inside, had great space and excellent safety. It was down on power, sure, but not terminally so.
...and yet the much, much poorer W-Bodies outsold it. I mean, you could make a case for the Maxima (power, handling) or Avalon (power, reliability), but there's no reason, save marketing, that the Five Hundred should've been beat out by a warmed-over Lumina.
I hope the Taurus does better, but I'm not holding out hopes. "Taurus" has the same kind of brand equity that "Cavalier" or "Escort" does.
Reply
Drewboy 5:51PM (6/15/2007)
I never equated the name "Taurus" with POS like I did Cavalier or Escort.
Bob-omb 2:57AM (6/16/2007)
Uh, the "W-bodies" didn't compete with the 500. They competed with the old Taurus. The 500/new Taurus is a much more expensive car, so there's no surprise that it has better dynamics than an Impala/old Taurus.
BC 5:01PM (6/15/2007)
I'm mid 30s and not in the demographic, but I've always liked this car and felt it was underrated. The size is kinda nostalgic.
The trunk! You can carry a mob family back there... or make babies, or rent it out as living space in NYC. It's huge.
Reply
geo.stewart 5:27PM (6/15/2007)
Funny, I am 37, felt it (the 500 and now the Taurus) was an old fogey's car and was going to comment "Safe for who?" if you have a bunch of octogenarian's hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake...
I really liked the last 2 generations of Taurus from design but ride was VERY basic (read boat ride).
but hey, if the younger crowd digs it, all the better for Ford.
Reply
Simon 5:31PM (6/15/2007)
Wow, all the Ford employees seemed to have flocked to this room.
Anyways, Why is this called All New?
Its been around for 3 years.
Reply
Anthony 5:37PM (6/15/2007)
ok Ok I want in. Please I want in. I want to lie just like all of you. Please tell me which one you like. Here it goes:
1-I am 24 hardbody stud and I like this car. Wow I cant belive i like it.
2-I am so excited about this car. I cried and cried when the plug was pulled on the Taurus. I am overjoyed now.
3-Although I am not in the demographic of this car, Its certainly the best thing since slice bread. this will bring Ford back.
4-I drive a Camry. It has been a POS since I bought it. It breaks down all the time. I will trade it in for this brand new Taurus.
5-Upon replacing 6 transmissions in my Accord and 12 water pumps in my camry I cant wait till my Taurus arrives.
6-I am 6'7 and very very fat. I know for sure I will not have any problems getting into this car.
7-I drive the current ford 500 and I get 35 miles per gallon. I know for sure i will get 40 mpg in this new one.
Reply
SobeSVT 6:26PM (6/15/2007)
My name is Anthony and I am an idiot and I feel a bit better if I make fun of people I don't know on the internet.
Ron 6:48PM (6/15/2007)
Seriously, Ford must have a new blogging division.
Hi, I'm 26 and I.......